Sail slide fixture



Dec. z3, 1941,. R. Ems 2,261,469

SAIL SLIDE FIXIIURE` Filed March 30, 1959y lygiflwwwmmm@ ATTQRNEYSS.

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT? LOQFFIIC E 'SAIL SLIDE FIXTURE `VRoger. E. Joys, `Whitefish Bay, Wis.; assigner: to Joys;` Brothers Company Milwaukee, AlVis-.,l a corporation of Wisconsin l i Application March so, 1939, serial No. 264m# (sigur- 10st Y 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in sail slide fixtures', and more particularly to iixtures carried by the edge of` a boat` sail, suchas a jib sail, for slidably and detachably connecting the sail edge to a taut stay orguy wire.

In yachts and small sailing boats, the small forward sail termed the jlb sail has its long diagonally extending edge operatively supported by a stay or guy wire. In common practice spaced-apart fixtures are secured to said edge of the sai-land said xtures `are in turn slidably engaged with the stay to permit sliding and swinging movements of the sail relative to the stay. Fory lowering or removing of the sail it is essential that the fixtures be completely disengaged from the stay and with respect to the fixtures of this type in common use, the same are formed with snap hooks orv like devices which must be manipulated to permit disengagement and release of the same from the supporting stay. The said xtures commonly used for this purpose are awkward and inconvenient to manipulate, are complicated and relatively expensive in construction, and the latch or snap ele ments thereof may eventually become impaired by rust and weather.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a sail slide xture which will slidably engage a stay and which may be engaged with or disengaged from a stay by a simple movement of the fixture and without the necessity of manipulating a latch or snap ele ment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sail slide fixture of very simple and inexpensive construction and which incorporates no latch or snap elements therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sail slide iixture which will not become accidentally disengaged from a supporting stay, but which may be disengaged by twisting the xture through an angle of ninety degrees from normal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sail slide fixture which is permanently oonnected to the edge of a sail by a malleable bracket which merely embraces the sail edge, whereby the fixture may be quickly applied to the sail, and does noi-l weaken or impair the same.

vA further object of the invention is to provide a sail slide iixture which is easy to apply, connect and manipulate, is strong and durable, which eifects a positive sliding connection with a stay, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the aboveand other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe 'improved sail slide lixture, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the clai'm and all equivalents thereof.

1n the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in alll ofthe views: y

Fig. 1 lisja,fragmentaryside view of the bow of a sailboat showinga jib sail rigged to the stay with theV improved fixtures;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view ofthe sail slide fixtureV associated with ,an edge portion of a sail and engaging a stay or guy wire, a portion of the fixture being broken away and in section;

Fig; 3 is an end view of, the showing in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4- isa perspective View of the fixture with brokenline showingsof the manner in which a stay is engaged or Adisengaged relative thereto.

Referring' now more particularly' to the drawing', it willappear that the bow of a sail boat oryacht is designated by the numeral 8 andy said boat is equipped with the usual mast 9 and a bowsprit I0. A stay or guy wire I I extends diagonally from the outer end of the bowsprit to the upper end portion of the mast and said stay is adapted to have the long diagonal edge portion of a jib sail I2 slidably and swingably, and detachably associated therewith.

The present invention is concerned primarily with improved fixture members, generally designated by the numerals I3, spacedly carried by the long diagonal edge of said jib sail, and slidably and releasably engaged with .the stay II.

One of the elements of the fixture I3 is a metallic sleeve I4 of generally rectangular form, with a hollow interior and open ends, the top and bottom walls of said member being curved on a radius slightly greater than that of the stay II. Medially of the ends of the sleeve I4 there is a transverse slot I 5 extending through the top wall and down both sides to a point substantially midway of the transverse dimension of the sleeve. On one side of the sleeve the lower end of said slot connects with the inner end of a slot I6 at right angles thereto, which latter slot `extends to one end of the sleeve. On the other face or side wall of the element there is a similar slot I'I extending from the adjacent lower end of the slot I5 to the opposite end of 4the sleeve. Said slots I5, I6 and I'I are of slightly greater width than the diameter of the stay II. In the lower portion of the element I4 there is a substantially oval opening I8.

A malleable U-shaped clip I9 constitutes the other element of the composite fixture I 3 and said clip is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Said clip is movably hung on the strap of the sleeve element bounding the lower edge of the opening I8. Initially the jaws or arm portions of the clip are spread somewhat, as in Fig. 4, and the clip element is readily assembled with a sleeve element by passing an arm through the opening I8 until the position of Fig. 4 is attained.

The long diagonal edge of the sail I2 is bound about a rope and said bound edge is adapted to carry a number of the composite fixtures at suitably spaced intervals. The spread clip element of each fixture is engaged with the selectedand edge portion of the sail and then the jaws of the clips are forced toward one another and into clamping engagement with'the sail edge, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Small prongs 20 on the inner faces of the engaging portions of the clip arms bite into the rope and fabric and additionally aid in effecting a secure engagement with the sail edge. It is obvious, therefore, that the improved fixtures are readily, expeditiously, and inexpensively applied to the sail edge and the manner of application of the same eliminates any sewn attaching means and results in an arrangement which does not weaken or impair the `sail edge.

When the stay or guy Vwire I.I is slackened a trie the elements I4 of the `composite fixtures may be readily engaged with or be disengaged from said stay. The normal positions of the elements relative to the stay is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. However, for purposes of engagement or disengagement the fixture elements should be turned to positions at right angles to normal with the elements shifted to also register the stay with the slots I6 and I'I. The stay is then transverse of the sleeves I4 and can be inserted in or dislodged from the slots I5 as in Fig. 4. When the sail edge is engaged with the stay, downward pull of the sail and the tautness thereof cause the stay to be removed from the zone of the slots I6 and I'I and it engages the inner top wall portions of the sleeves.

The described arrangement affords convenient and effective attaching means for the sail, which means may be quickly engaged with or disengaged from the stay without the necessity of operating snap fasteners, latches, or the like. By virtue of the openings I8 which movably receive the fixture elements I9, movement as between the several elements of a composite fixture is permitted and turning of the elements I4 to the necessary positions is additionally facilitated by the flexible sail. The various elements are, of course, free to slide on the stay. From the forgeoing description, it will be seen that the improved slide sail txure is of simple andnovel construction, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

In combination, a sail supporting stay, a hollow sleeve member of oval form in cross-section slidably and detachably embracing said stay, said sleeve member having medially of its ends a transverse slot through an end wall and opposite side walls terminating intermediate the edges of the sleeve and longitudinal slots in opposite side walls of the sleeve extending from opposite directions and terminating at the transverse slot, the sleeve being removable from the stay by turning movements to pass the stay through one of the longitudinal slots and the transverse slot, an inner portion of the sleeve member having an elongated and curved opening therein, a U-shaped clasp member medially and universally movably carried within the opening of the sleeve member, and a sail having an edge portion thereof clampingly embraced by other portions of said clasp member.

ROGER E. JOYS. 

